New DX Mitral Valve leak

I was just diagnosed with a moderate mitral valve leak through an echo. My cardiologist has ordered a TEE to be performed on June 3. I am having symptoms - mostly a cough that has persisted for several months after which I often am gasping for breath. I also get chest pains when coughing and struggling to catch my breath.

I am very active - I go to the gym 3x a week and work out with weights along with some cardio. I walk 3 miles 2-3 times a week as well. I have a history of high blood pressure and cardio vascular disease, but both are very well controlled to the point my cardiologist took me off all meds last year aside from Atorvastatin and baby aspirin. I eat a heart-healthy diet, for the most part, non-smoker, very light social drinker (2 weeks or so to finish a bottle of wine with my husband!).

I do have a family history of coronary artery disease - my mother had to have her carotid artery cleaned out, my father had triple bypass surgery. The stress test my cardiologist did a few weeks ago just confirmed the presence of plaque that he's been watching for several years - no additional build up.

My question (finally, thanks for bearing with me) is at what point do I call my doctor or go to ER if I feel I'm having more troubling symptoms? A big part of me is saying that I'm just more aware of them now. Based on my doctor's reaction when I told him about the cough - he knows about the dizziness and nausea already - I have a feeling that the TEE will result in surgery. We are planning a move this summer/fall, and he said that he wants to get this done before I move so I don't have to start all over again with a new doctor. Does this sound like I'm heading towards surgery?